Interlocked pallet and container system

ABSTRACT

This specification discloses an interlocked pallet and container system comprising a pallet including a rectangular horizontal platform formed with three rows of legs with three legs in each row. These legs define passages for the entry of the tines of a fork lift in any of four directions. Joined to opposite side edges of the platform by integral hinges are two flaps, each having a plurality of lugs which extend inwardly when the flaps are in an upraised position. Opening onto the upper face of the platform are two grooves which are parallel to the side edges which carry the flaps. A plurality of containers are assembled on the pallet. Each container is rectangular in shape and comprises a bottom formed with a depending rib, upwardly diverging side walls, two opposed ones of which are formed with a plurality of apertures, and a top hingedly connected to the upper edge of one side wall. The top is formed with an outwardly opening groove that is parallel to the rib on the bottom. When the containers are assembled on the pallet, the flaps are folded upwardly and the lugs thereon are received in the apertures in the walls of the containers in two of the outer sides of the lower tier. The ribs on these containers are fitted in the grooves in the pallet platform. Additional tiers of containers are superimposed on the lower tier with the ribs on the bottoms of the containers in one tier being received in the grooves in the tops of the containers in the tier therebelow. A pair of straps are passed around the assembled containers and pallet passing over the flaps and through the passages on the underside of the pallet.

Unite States Kilroy HNTERLOCKED PALLET AND CQNTR SYSTEM [76] lnventor: Oliver 0. Kilroy, 5 Calle Corta St,

Tucson, Ariz.

[22] Filed: Jan. 24, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 220,329

[52] US. Cl. 206/65 13, 108/51, 206/65 R,

217/26 [51] Int. Cl. 365d 71/00, 365d 85/62 [58] Field of Search 206/65 B, 65 R, 65 K,

lirirr gry Examiner-William T. Dixson, Jr. Attorney-Eric P. Schellin and John A. Robertson [57] ABSTRAQT This specification discloses an interlocked pallet and container system comprising a pallet including a rect- Aug. 23, 1973 angular horizontal platform formed with three rows of legs with three leg in each row. These legs define passages for the entry of the tines of a fork lift in any of four directions. Joined to opposite side edges of the platform by integal hinges are two flaps, each having a plurality of lugs which extend inwardly when the flaps are in an upraised position. Opening onto the upper face of the platform are two grooves which are parallel to the side edges which carry the flaps.

A plurality of containers are assembled on the pallet. Each container is rectangular in shape and comprises a bottom formed with a depending rib, upwardly diverging side walls, two opposed ones of which are formed with a plurality of apertures, and a top hingedly connected to the upper edge of one side wall. The top is formed with an outwardly opening groove that is parallel to the rib on the bottom.

When the containers are assembled on the pallet, the flaps are folded upwardly andthe lugs thereon are received in the apertures in the walls of the containers in two of the outer sides of the lower tier. The ribs on these containers are fitted in the grooves in the pallet platform. Additional tiers of containers are superimposed on the lower tier with the ribs on the bottoms of the containers in one tier being received in the grooves in the tops of the containers in the tier therebelow. A pair of straps are passed around the assembled containers and pallet passing over the flaps and through the passages on the underside of the pallet.

E1 11mm: 7 1 3s in Patented Aug. 28, 1973 3,754,645

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patentd Aug. 28, 1973 3,754,645

3 Sheets-Sheet :3

Patented Aug. 28, 1973 I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INTERLOCKED PALLET AND CONTAINER SYSTEM The present invention relates to pallet and container systems and is concerned primarily with a system in which the containers are interlocked with the pallet and each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION At the present time, it is a known and widespread practice to employ containers which are commonly known as pallet bins in the handling of various materials including produce. Such containers are of various materials and due to the fact that in some instances they are molded, the side walls thereof have a draft provided by a slight divergence of the side walls to permit withdrawal of the mold cores. This tapered construction of the containers is helpful in providing an interlocked stack in that with three rows of containers in a tier, the containers of the middle row may be inverted to provide an arrangement in which the middle row is literally locked in position by the outer rows.

It is also known to make pallets and to form such pallets with depending legs which support the horizontal platform of the pallet in spaced relation to the ground or comparable surface. This spacing accommodates the entry of the tines of a fork lift beneath the platform.

It is also known practice to assemble a plurality of containers of the type noted on a pallet in tiers and to bind them to the pallet by straps which pass around the containers and beneath the pallet.

The known art is singularly lacking in a system of the character aforesaid in which the lower tier of containers is interlocked with the upper surface of the pallet platform and side flaps on the platform with the containers of upper tiers being interlocked with the containers of the tier therebelow.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION With the foregoing condition in mind, the present invention has in view the following objectives:

1. To provide a pallet and container system in which the containers are interlocked with the pallet and with each other.

2. To provide, in a system of the type noted,a pallet comprising .a rectangular horizontal platform having legs integral therewith and depending therefrom, side flaps integrally joined to opposed side edges of the platform and formed with a plurality of lugs, and grooves opening onto the upper surface of the platform and parallel to the side edges of the platform to which said flaps are joined.

3. To provide, in a system of the character aforesaid, a pallet having legs arranged to provide four-way entry of the tines of a fork lift beneath the pallet.

4. To provide, in a system of the kind described, a pallet having side flaps on opposed side edges of the pallet with each flap having at least one lug for cooperation with an aperture for each container that is assembled on that side of the pallet in the lower tier of such containers.

5. To provide, in a system of the type noted, a rectangular container having a bottom formed with a downwardly projecting rib, upwardly diverging side walls, certain of which are formed with at least one aperture, and a top connected to the upper edge of one side wall by an integral hinge and formed with an upwardly opening groove parallel to the rib on the bottom.

6. To provide, in a system of the type noted, a container having a top hingedly connected to the upper edge of a side wall with the edge remote from the hinges having means for securing it in closed position.

7. To provide, in a system of the type noted, a pallet including a platform having side flaps and on which is assembled a tier comprising three rows of containers having upwardly diverging side walls. The container of the outer rows have their bottoms, which are of smaller area than the tops, engaging and interlocked with the platform and flaps. The containers of the middle row are inverted, whereby the engaging side walls clamp the containers of the middle row in position.

8. To provide an interlocked pallet and container system which includes a plurality of containers of the character above described which are assembled in stacked relation on a pallet of the kind aforesaid together with straps passing about the stacked containers and said flaps and beneath the platform of the pallet between the legs thereof.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention such as arise in connection with carrying out the above ideas in a practical embodiment will, in part, become apparent, and, in part, be hereafter stated as the description of the invention proceeds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The foregoing objects are achieved by providing a rectangular pallet comprising 'a platform having integral legs depending therefrom which define passages affording four-way entry of the tines of a fork lift and a pair of flaps hingedly connected to opposed side edges of the platform and formed with a plurality of lugs. The upper face of the platform is formed with two grooves parallel to the side edges to which the flaps are connected.

A plurality of containers are assembled in tiers on the platform. Each container, is rectangular and has a bottom formed with a depending rib, upwardly diverging side walls, and a top hingedly connected to the upper edge of a side wall. This top is formed with an upwardly opening groove and certain of the side walls are formed with at least one aperture. 7

When the containers are assembled on the pallet, the flaps are folded upwardly into engagement with the outer containers of the lower tier on the sides adjacent to the flaps with the lugs on the flaps fitting in the apertures in the container walls. The ribs on the bottoms of these outer containers of the lower tier are received in the grooves in the pallet surface. The ribs on the containers in the upper tiers are received in the grooves in the tops of the containers therebelow. A pair of straps are passed about the stacked containers over the flaps and beneath the platform of the pallet being received in the passages defined by the legs. With three rows of containers in each tier the containers of the middle row are inverted. The engaging side walls clamp the containers of the middle row in position.

For a full and more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of an interlocked pallet and container system embodying the precepts of this. invention;

FIG. 2 is a view partially in section and partly in elevation with the section being taken on the plane of the line 2-2 of FIG. 1; i

FIG. 3 is a section taken on an enlarged scale through a portion of the bottom of a container-and that portion of the pallet with which it engages;

FIG. 4 is a perspective looking at the underside of the assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a detailed perspective on an enlarged scale depicting a portion of a pallet with a flap thereon folded upwardly and a container engaging the platform and flap of the pallet.

FIG. 6 is a perspective of a modification including two pairs of straps with the straps of one pair crossing the straps of the other pair and the pallet having flaps on all four sides; and

FIG. 7 is a section through one of the containers of the system of FIG. 6 and is taken on an enlarged scale.

Before referring to the drawings, it is important to note that while the pallets and containers of the embodiments illustrated are shown as being square in a horizontal plane they can be of any rectangular shape. It is also important to point out that these elements may be of any material conventionally used for pallets and containers with a molded fiber being indicated as the preferred material. The particular container illustrated and hereinafter described is merely exemplary of one container which may be used in the subject system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings, and first more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 5 inclusive, a pallet is identified in its entirety at 10 and comprises a horizontal platform 11 from which depend legs 12. The latter are formed integrally with platform 11 and this is particularly true if the pallet is of molded fiber. The formation of legs 12 result in recesses 13 which open onto the upper face 14 of the platform 11. The latter is also formed with the two grooves 15 which are parallel and extend completely across platform 11. They are not interrupted by any of the recesses 13. A ridge 9 projects from face 14 and is parallel to grooves 15, being located therebetween and offset with respect to a centerline between the grooves.

A pair of side flaps 16 are connected to the side edges of platform 11 which are parallel to grooves 15 by integral hinges 17. Each of flaps 16 is formed with a plurality of lugs 18 which are inwardly directed when the flaps are folded upwardly. Obviously the formation of lugs 18 will result in recesses 19 (FIG. 1) on the opposite faces of the flaps.

The presence of legs 12 results in the definition of two wide grooves or channel-like passages 20 which extend in one direction parallel to edges of platform 11 on the underside thereof and a second pair of passages 21 which are normal to passages 20. Thus four-way entry for the tines of a fork lift is provided.

A container is identified in its entirety by the reference character 22. As pointed out above, it may be of any material that has been found suitable for the purposes of containers of the type with which this invention is concerned. For the purposes of this specification, the containers 22 are of molded fiber because the molding of containers of this material, in accordance with present molding techniques, ordinarily results in a draft or taper in the side walls to facilitate removal of mold cores.

A container 22 comprises a bottom 23 which is rectangular and preferably square, side walls 24, 25, 26 and 27 which diverge upwardly from bottom 23 and a top or cover 28 which is connected to the upper edge of wall 25 by an integral hinge or fold line 29 which is more clearly shown in FIG. 7.

Bottom 23 is formed with an outwardly projecting rib 30 which extends between the edges from which walls 24 and 26 upstand. The formation of rib 30 results in a groove 31 on the inner face of bottom 23. It is notable that rib 30 is offset with respect to the center line of bottom 23 being closer to the edge from which wall 25 upstands. This location of rib 30 is important because of the necessity for having it fitted in groove 15 when the container in which it is formed is positioned on pallet 10 with wall 27 substantially in alignment with a side edge of platform 11.

Each of walls 25 and 27 is formed with a plurality of slot-like apertures 32 which align and are located above bottom 23 a distance from bottom 23 which corresponds to the spacing of lugs 18 from the hinge connection 17 of a flap 16. While three apertures 32 are illustrated, it will be understood that a single aperture in the effective wall of a container might prove to be sufficient to provide the required interlock with a flap 16.

Apertures 32 are provided in both of walls 25 and 27 purely for convenience in handling. The apertures in only one of these walls is effective at any one time. By forming'them in both walls an operator loading the pallet is confronted with a minimum of inconvenience.

Top 28 is formed with an outwardly opening groove 33 which extends between the edges thereof which engage walls 24 and 26 when the top is closed. The formation of groove 33 results in a rib 34 (FIG. 7) on the underside of top 28. The edge of top 28 remote from hinge 29 is formed with a downtumed flange 35 (FIG. 5) which frictionally engages the inner face of wall 27 when top 28 is in closed position. While this frictional engagement may be sufficient under some conditions to hold the cover closed, the invention comtemplates supplementing its holding effect by some conventional device such as stapling or applying a strip of adhesive tape. over the meeting edges of wall 27 and top 28.

OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT .While the manner in which containers 22 are assembled on pallet 10 is believed to be obvious from the illustrations of the drawings and description of parts set forth above, it is briefly outlined as follows:

Each of the containers 22 which are to be loaded on pallet 10 is first filled with the materials to be handled, the top 28 swung into closed position and, if required, a supplemental holding device is applied to flange 35 and wall 27. I

A row of containers, in the illustrated embodiment three, are placed on platform 11 with ribs 30 fitting in a groove 15. This row is identified as an outer row. A second row which is identified as the middle row is then assembled on pallet 10 adjacent to the said outer row with the containers in an inverted position, that is with the bottom 23 uppermost. In this position the meeting side walls of the container engage. The grooves 33 in the tops of the inverted middle row of containers receive ridge 9 as depicted in FIG. 2.

A second outer row of containers is then assembled on pallet 10 with ribs 30 fitting in the outer groove 15 and the walls of the containers engaging the corresponding walls of the containers in the middle row.

Flaps 16 are now swung upwardly about hinges 17 into positions in which they substantially overlie the outer walls of the containers of the outer rows and lugs 18 are received in apertures 32. This completes the as sembly of the lower tier of containers on the pallet.

A second tier of containers is then stacked on the lower tier with the ribs 30 of the outer rows being received in the grooves 33 of the tops 28 of the outer rows and the grooves 33 of the top 28 of the middle row of this second tier receiving the ribs 30 on the bottoms 23 of the containers of the middle row of the lower tier. Thus, all of the containers 22 of the second tier are interlocked with the containers of the lower tier.

A third tier is stacked on the second tier in the same manner that the second tier is stacked on the lower tier. Additional tiers may be stacked on the third tier to a desired height in the manner above described. After the desired number of tiers have been stacked, a pair of straps 36 (FIG. 1) are then passed through passages beneath platform 11, about flaps 16, over the outer walls of containers 22 in the outer rows of the upper tiers and over the tops of the containers in the upper tier. The straps are pulled taut and secured by any conventional device such as buckles 37.

THE MODIFICATION While it is believed that two opposed flaps l6 and a pair of straps 36 will supply the degree of security required for most conditions, FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an arrangement which is founded on the same basic principles as the arrangement of FIGS. 1 to 5, but which affords a higher degree of security in the loading of the pallet. v

Referring first to FIG. 7, a container designated generally 38, has four diverging walls 39 each of which is formed with a plurality of apertures 40. It has the same bottom and top structure as the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 and are similarly designated.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a pallet 41 is of the same construction as pallet 10 with the exception of a pair of flaps 42 (only one illustrated) which are hingedly connected to platform 11 of pallet 41 on the side edges thereof between flaps l6. Flaps 42 have the lugs 18 of flaps 16.

The containers 38 are assembled on pallet 41 in the same way as are the containers 22 assembled and stacked on pallet 10. However, in addition to straps 36, a second pair of straps 43 are passed through passages 21, about flaps 42 and over the stacked containers 38 whereupon they are tightened and secured.

While preferred specific embodiments are herein disclosed, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact constructions, devices and materials illustrated and described because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice.

What is Claimed is:

1. In an interlocked pallet and container system,

a. a pallet comprising a rectangular platform having an upper face, a lower face and two pairs of opposed side edges;

b. a pair of grooves in said platform opening onto its upper face and extending between one pair of side edges and parallel to the other pair;

c. a pair of flaps hingedly connected to the side edges of the platform which are parallel to said grooves;

d. a plurality of lugs carried by said flaps and extending inwardly when said flaps are in upraised positions;

a plurality of legs depending from the lower face of said platform and defining a pair of channel-like passages on the underside of the platform and which terminate at the edges to which said flaps are connected;

f. a plurality of containers stacked on said platform, said containers being arranged in tiers, there being a lower tier, said lower tier including outer rows at the side edges of the platform to which said flaps are connected;

g. each of said containers comprising a rectangular bottom having a downwardly projecting rib, with the ribs of the containers of the outer rows of the lower tier being received in said grooves, two pairs of opposed walls upstanding from said bottom with a wall of one pair being formed with an aperture, with the aperture in the wall of an outer row receiving one of said lugs, a top formed with an outwardly opening groove, and means to hold said top in closed position; and

h. a pair of straps passing through said passages, about said flaps and the outer rows of containers and over the top of said stacked containers.

2. The interlocked pallet and container system of claim 1 in which said legs also define a second pair of passages normal to said first mentioned pair, whereby four-way entry for the tines of a fork lift is provided.

3. The interlocked pallet and container system of claim 1 in which both opposed walls of a pair of the container walls are formed with an aperture.

4. The interlocked panel and container system of claim 3 in which said apertures are slot-like and there are a plurality of such apertures in each of said opposed walls.

5. The interlocked pallet and container system of claim 1 in which said top is connected to the upper edge of a-wall by an integral hinge together with a depending flange on the edge of said top remote from said hinge and which flange frictionally engages the upper portion of the wall opposite torthat to which said lugs is connected.

6. The interlocked pallet and container system of claim 1 in which the ribs of the container bottoms are offset with respect to the center lines of said bottoms and the grooves in said pallet platform are continuous.

7. The interlocked pallet and container system of claim 1 in which the walls of the containers diverge upwardly from the bottoms and the tiers include a middle row between the outer rows with the containers of the middle row being invertedwhereby the engagement of the walls of the containers of the middle row with the walls of the containers of the outer rows establish the interlocked relation of the containers.

8. The interlocked pallet and container system of claim 7 in which there is a tier above the lower tier with the ribs on the bottoms of the containers of the outer rows being received in the grooves in the tops of the containers of the outer rows of the lower tier and the recesses in the tops of the containers of the middle. row of said tier above the lower tier receiving the ribs on the bottoms of the containers of the middle row of said lower tier.

9. The interlocked pallet and container system of claim 2 together with a second pair of flaps hingedly ertures in the container walls.

11. The interlocked pallet and container assembly of claim 1 in which there is a ridge projecting from the upper face of said platform and between and parallel to the groove in said platform, together with a middle row of inverted containers in said lower tier, said ridge being received in the outwardly opening grooves in the tops of said middle row of containers. 

1. In an interlocked pallet and container system, a. a pallet comprising a rectangular platform having an upper face, a lower face and two pairs of opposed side edges; b. a pair of grooves in said platform opening onto its upper face and extending between one pair of side edges and parallel to the other pair; c. a pair of flaps hingedly connected to the side edges of the platform which are parallel to said grooves; d. a plurality of lugs carried by said flaps and extending inwardly when said flaps are in upraised positions; e. a plurality of legs depending from the lower face of said platform and defining a pair of channel-like passages on the underside of the platform and which terminate at the edges to which said flaps are connected; f. a plurality of containers stacked on said platform, said containers being arranged in tiers, there being a lower tier, said lower tier including outer rows at the side edges of the platform to which said flaps are connected; g. each of said containers comprising a rectangular bottom having a downwardly projecting rib, with the ribs of the containers of the outer rows of the lower tier being received in said grooves, two pairs of opposed walls upstanding from said bottom with a wall of one pair being formed with an aperture, with the aperture in the wall of an outer row receiving one of said lugs, a top formed with an outwardly opening groove, and means to hold said top in cLosed position; and h. a pair of straps passing through said passages, about said flaps and the outer rows of containers and over the top of said stacked containers.
 2. The interlocked pallet and container system of claim 1 in which said legs also define a second pair of passages normal to said first mentioned pair, whereby four-way entry for the tines of a fork lift is provided.
 3. The interlocked pallet and container system of claim 1 in which both opposed walls of a pair of the container walls are formed with an aperture.
 4. The interlocked panel and container system of claim 3 in which said apertures are slot-like and there are a plurality of such apertures in each of said opposed walls.
 5. The interlocked pallet and container system of claim 1 in which said top is connected to the upper edge of a wall by an integral hinge together with a depending flange on the edge of said top remote from said hinge and which flange frictionally engages the upper portion of the wall opposite to that to which said lugs is connected.
 6. The interlocked pallet and container system of claim 1 in which the ribs of the container bottoms are offset with respect to the center lines of said bottoms and the grooves in said pallet platform are continuous.
 7. The interlocked pallet and container system of claim 1 in which the walls of the containers diverge upwardly from the bottoms and the tiers include a middle row between the outer rows with the containers of the middle row being inverted whereby the engagement of the walls of the containers of the middle row with the walls of the containers of the outer rows establish the interlocked relation of the containers.
 8. The interlocked pallet and container system of claim 7 in which there is a tier above the lower tier with the ribs on the bottoms of the containers of the outer rows being received in the grooves in the tops of the containers of the outer rows of the lower tier and the recesses in the tops of the containers of the middle row of said tier above the lower tier receiving the ribs on the bottoms of the containers of the middle row of said lower tier.
 9. The interlocked pallet and container system of claim 2 together with a second pair of flaps hingedly connected to the side edges of said platform which are not parallel to said grooves, the containers of said lower tier which engage said second pair of flaps being interlocked therewith, and a second pair of straps passing through said second pair of passages, about said second pair of flaps and over said stacked containers.
 10. The interlocked pallet and container system of claim 9 in which the interlock between said second pair of flaps and the containers in engagement therewith is provided by lugs on the flaps which are received in apertures in the container walls.
 11. The interlocked pallet and container assembly of claim 1 in which there is a ridge projecting from the upper face of said platform and between and parallel to the groove in said platform, together with a middle row of inverted containers in said lower tier, said ridge being received in the outwardly opening grooves in the tops of said middle row of containers. 